Don't buy more car than you can use
Posted
May 07 2008, 01:07 PM
by
Karen Datko
Buying a large SUV or pickup truck for twice-a-year trips to Home Depot or ski weekends makes little financial sense. Poster Doc Ricketts offers his take on what drivers really need when they buy their next vehicle:
First, adequate seating. This is the number of seats needed for regular use.
Next, a trailer hitch. "A modern compact car can tow 2,000 pounds on an occasional basis without really wearing the car out. That's a small U-Haul trailer or equivalent loaded with a whole lot of stuff, more than the trunk of all but the largest vehicles can hold. The hitch will cost about $300 installed or less on most cars (I know because my car proved to be a really expensive installation compared to most other models). ..."
And last, a roof rack. "These run for under $300 as well, and most cars can accept one. Racks usually hold upward of 150 pounds (evenly distributed), which is two very large, very full suitcases. 4 bicycles (if the roof and rack are wide enough) usually weigh less than this amount."
A midsize SUV costs $10,448 a year to own and operate, AAA says, while a small sedan costs $6,320. As Doc Ricketts points out, "for that occasional boat-tow, giant extended family trip, and so on, you can rent a vehicle, and not have to own the stupid thing."
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